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DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) - Western leaders may be Vladimir Putin's biggest critics over the conflict in east Ukraine but the Russian leader is also facing criticism from some of the rebels they accuse him of arming.The European Union and the United States have imposed new sanctions on Russia because they say Putin has not done enough to persuade the pro-Russian separatists to stop fighting and is supplying them with weapons.But there is also frustration with Putin among some of the fighters, even though a rebellion that began with assault rifles, hunting guns and old weapons now has multiple rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, armored vehicles and tanks.Squeezed by the Ukrainian army into their last two strongholds, the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, the rebels complain they are outnumbered and outgunned."Oh, how we would like to see the Russian army here," said a fighter who gave his name only as Pavel, standing outside the rebel headquarters in Donetsk, an industrial city about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of the nearest border crossing with Russia."If they were here, the Ukrainian border would be 300 km away to the west and south. But they're not coming."Despite the denials of other rebels, he said the separatists were receiving military equipment, including multiple missile launchers, from Russia."But that's only a fraction of what we need. We need people, experienced people. But Putin is afraid of spending Russian funds and his oligarchs' funds," he said.Another rebel fighter, who declined to give his name, also voiced frustration with Moscow."Russia must enter Novorossiya," he said, using the name - which means New Russia - that Putin himself has at times used for the regions in eastern Ukraine where the separatists have risen up against Kiev's rule."This is Russian soil, and every day they waste waiting (to send in arms and personnel) means more deaths," he said. "We feel somewhat as if we are Russia's cannon fodder."It is not clear how widespread such disenchantment is among the rebels, and none of those who voiced criticism was prepared to give their full names for fear of retribution.
"This is Russian soil, and every day they waste waiting (to send in arms and personnel) means more deaths," he said. "We feel somewhat as if we are Russia's cannon fodder."
